Medical Time!

[honeybee13]

When you ring, I suggest you ask them which forms of ID they will accept. Banks for instance take quite a long list to prove who you are. See if you can find a combination that proves your identity to their satisfaction.

 

The DWP already have your bank details, don't they? So I imagine Atos might be able to get hold of them. But if they do anything daft with the details, you complain to the Information Commissioner and they get into trouble.

 

HB

[wishface]

ATOS won't be getting my bank details, period. If there is some bull**** law that allows them, a private organisation, access to that information from the DWP, then they can go to hell. I'd rather starve.

 

I don't have three forms of ID. Two would be a stretch, and sigining on doesn't require three (or didn't last time).

 

How are we letting these people behave like this

[honeybee13]

ATOS won't be getting my bank details, period. If there is some bull**** law that allows them, a private organisation, access to that information from the DWP, then they can go to hell. I'd rather starve.

 

I don't have three forms of ID. Two would be a stretch, and sigining on doesn't require three (or didn't last time).

 

How are we letting these people behave like this

 

Wishface, have you actually asked them [DWP or Atos] if there's a way round your problems? They might be able to suggest an alternative. I would ring.

 

HB

[wishface]

In the process of trying, they are always too busy to answer.

[loan_ranger]

I think that you can get them to send a cheque, however this will mean waiting a few days longer while it clears into your account. I read somewhere that someone else had done this.

 

Regards,

Paul.

[wishface]

I've had enough of all this crap. I won't be going, I'm not going to pass anyway. There's only so much bureacracy I can take. Thanks for the help.

[honeybee13]

How is not going likely to help wishface?

 

HB

[loan_ranger]

Please don't give up Wishface, overburdening the appeals and clogging up the system is one of the few ways we have of fighting them back. You don't hear any of us becoming defeatists.

You'll upset the entire ESA club, they're all here supporting you, but they won't tolerate lightweights - bad for morale.

[wishface]

How is not going likely to help wishface?

 

HB

I'm not going to pass so what's the point?

[wishface]

Please don't give up Wishface, overburdening the appeals and clogging up the system is one of the few ways we have of fighting them back. You don't hear any of us becoming defeatists.

You'll upset the entire ESA club, they're all here supporting you, but they won't tolerate lightweights - bad for morale.

I'm sure you mean well but I don't care for emotional blackmail or being called a 'lightweight'. That's totally uncalled for.

[RaeUK]

It was clearly very tongue in cheek...

[loan_ranger]

Thanks Rae for sticking up for me, I think I'll stay out of commenting back to Wishface myself, discretion being the greater part of valour.

[wishface]

It was clearly very tongue in cheek...

I cannot tell whether that's tongue in cheek or not. But I see no point in attending a medical I won't pass and going through all that stress and beiong forced to be put out of pocket which I cannot afford.

[honeybee13]

But aren't you going to be out of pocket anyway, if they stop your benefit?

 

HB

[F_DCAs]

Exactly. If you don't go, you WILL be out of pocket. Do you have any GP letters or specialist letters that specifically state that you're unfit for work?

 

Besides, if you appeal their decision, you'll continue to be paid as normal (at least, I am) until the tribunal - whereupon the tribunal may come down on your side, depending on what evidence is there.

[furnitman2003]

Wishface. please carry on fighting, I failed my assessment, was shocked I failed it, 'see my own thread'. "Atos.your having a laugh". got the decision reviewed in my favour, but still lodged a complaint about Atos, and get a great sence of satisfaction posting on various campaign sites, what Atos/DWP get up to, as I'm appalled at what they get away with.

They will not win, Down With Pathetic ATOS.

[wishface]

But aren't you going to be out of pocket anyway, if they stop your benefit?

 

HB

It's going to be stopped either way.

[082stewie]

I landed on this thread by mistake and ended up reading the whole thing.

 

Wishface, I think you are suffering from a bit of anxity coupled with depression and isolation.

 

Dude you need to listen to the people giving you great advice, it would appear you are not alone.

 

Anyhow HB, furnitman, lone ranger and the rest helping...WOW what great support to a complete stranger!!! Really good to see.

If Wishface doesnt take the advice, then I am certain others would appreciate your support and insights more.

 

Now I will go back to my parking offences reading.

[wishface]

I landed on this thread by mistake and ended up reading the whole thing.

 

Wishface, I think you are suffering from a bit of anxity coupled with depression and isolation.

 

Dude you need to listen to the people giving you great advice, it would appear you are not alone.

 

Anyhow HB, furnitman, lone ranger and the rest helping...WOW what great support to a complete stranger!!! Really good to see.

If Wishface doesnt take the advice, then I am certain others would appreciate your support and insights more.

 

Now I will go back to my parking offences reading.

 

Well, that's why I claim ESA. But it won't matter since I won't get passed the medical. Even then there's no guarantee an appeal will find in my favour (which it won't) nor that it won't be resolved in a couple of weeks. So is there any point goign through a whole load of grief for nothing?

 

I don't even mind actually having the medical per se. I mind being messed around, dragged around on buses I don't care to travel on into a grotty old town and being made to wait for an hour in a very rough environment. If they offered to do the medical at my local surgery that would be fine, but ATOS are not interested in accomadating people's needs or showing any degree of flexibility.

 

My sick note ends in September, I won't get another and I don't understand the logic in just cutting off that period arbitrarily out of a sense of 'rules is rules'. I may speak to my MP about this, unfortunately he's a tory.

[honeybee13]

Wishface, did we discuss home visits from Atos? I can't remember now.

 

HB

[wishface]

Wishface, did we discuss home visits from Atos? I can't remember now.

 

HB

I won't qualify. They will only do those in extreme cases. Anyone that can walk to a bus stop and catch a bus won't get the opportunity.

[honeybee13]

So, wishface, is there anything we can say that will help, apart from waving a magic wand?

 

We don't seem to have got anywhere much since you started this thread and it's starting to get me down, as I also have/had anxiety and depression problems. It would help me to know what you expected when you started the thread, I think.

 

HB

[F_DCAs]

Well, that's why I claim ESA. But it won't matter since I won't get passed the medical. Even then there's no guarantee an appeal will find in my favour (which it won't) nor that it won't be resolved in a couple of weeks. So is there any point goign through a whole load of grief for nothing?

 

I don't even mind actually having the medical per se. I mind being messed around, dragged around on buses I don't care to travel on into a grotty old town and being made to wait for an hour in a very rough environment. If they offered to do the medical at my local surgery that would be fine, but ATOS are not interested in accomadating people's needs or showing any degree of flexibility.

 

My sick note ends in September, I won't get another and I don't understand the logic in just cutting off that period arbitrarily out of a sense of 'rules is rules'. I may speak to my MP about this, unfortunately he's a tory.

 

 

How do you know you won't pass an appeal? Many appeals do pass, but it does also depend on what your medical problem actually is and the severity of it.

 

If your case does go to appeal, getting GPs or specialists to write up on your behalf won't be a problem - their word I would argue carries more weight than the Atos 'doctor', simply in that the GP or specialist knows you personally, whereas the Atos monkey has only met you once and is totally in the dark as regards your medical history or background.

 

Why don't you try listening to the below clip (there are two parts)? It might give you an idea of what to expect, and to formulate a plan of what to do about it.

 

YouTube - ATOS Healthcare (aka - atoshealthcare) 1of2

[RaeUK]

Wishface, as has been said, please don't give up as that is totally self-defeating.

If you go to the assessment and fail, then go to appeal as you are GUARENTEED at least six months to nine months on the assesment rate - you will be no worse off than you are now. [And certainly better off than giving up]. Most of us then use that time to gather further medical supporting evidence, canvassing our local MP - yes, mines a tory too but damned helpful!

IF (and that's a big 'if') you fail at tribunal but can prove your condition is worse than you reapply for ESA [this is what I have had to do, 18 months on the assessment rate and counting...]

As for LRs tongue in cheek post, it's easy to tell. Just look at the smilies ...

Best wishes

Rae

[wishface]

My note expires in September, I'd have been happy to have the claim end then so I can at least try and move forward. But the medical process puts an end to that as they won't let me have the appointment then. My doctor won't write another note, he doesn't feel (based on past experience) i will need one. Fair enough he's not happy to write notes, but the issues I have are of that nature. The big problem I have is that the system is black and white and I'm inbetween.